Monty Python would struggle to come up with the tangled mess that is the Liberal party, nationally and in most states.
Nationally, retreating as contemplated by their leader to the right, seems self-defeating, especially while the ghost of the recent past hovers on the back bench. In WA, the next meeting on Monday is in the phone box on the corner of Hay and George streets, while in NSW the merits of a Hugo Boss designed dress uniform from 1938 is front page news.
Everywhere I look, it appears to be a re-run of the battle of Karansebes.
The ‘Battle of Karansebes‘ took place in 1788, in what is now Romania between the army of the Hapsburg empire, and itself.
In summary, a formation of Austrian Hussars was sent to reconnoitre the terrain and find the Ottoman army, the intended battle opposition. Instead, they found a bunch of Romanian gypsies who sold them some barrels of the local booze, which the Hussars took to be serious opposition, setting about the task of conquest.
Some time later, a platoon of Austrian infantry came upon them, and wanting to share in the spoils of war, a request that was vigorously opposed, leading to a drunken and chaotic shooting.
Somewhere into the chaos the main Austrian force thought the Ottomans were attacking, and opened fire on their own troops, then panicking, withdrew to try and restore a fighting stance.
2 days later, the Ottomans turned up and found nothing but the dead and wounded from the battle.
It seems to me to be a wonderful parallel for the war obviously going on in the liberal party. What can only be described as friendly fire adding mightily to the chaos after the destruction of the last election.
Header drawing: Battle of Karansebes, drawn in 1795 showing Ottoman forces advancing to Karansebes
